The Illinois Early Intervention Program: A Guide for Families was revised in 2024 and includes information on the Illinois Early Intervention (EI) Program, why EI services are important, how to find out whether your child is eligible for the EI program, starting and leaving EI services, your legal rights, and questions frequently asked by families. Versions of the guide are available in Polish, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, French and Kiswahili.
How is my child determined eligible for Early Intervention? A child must be under 36 months AND
-have a physician’s diagnosis of a
physical or mental condition that causes a developmental delay
-or have an identifiable
developmental delay of 30% or more
-or be at risk of substantial
delay because of certain risk factors.
Eligibility for ongoing services
is determined through an initial evaluation that takes place with the family,
evaluation team, and service coordinator.
https://eiclearinghouse.org/getting-started/eligibility/
How long will my child be in the program? Early Intervention is a voluntary program. Families can opt out of services at any time. A child can receive therapies, if they continue to be medically or developmentally eligible, until the day before their third birthday. Children may also meet their developmental goals and continued therapies are no longer needed.
Can we rejoin the program if we
decide to take a break?
Families have the right to stop services at any time and can initiate a new
referral any time before a child’s third birthday.
Can I be involved in my child’s
therapies? Of course! Parents and
caregivers are strongly encouraged to be active participants in a child’s
therapy sessions. Early Intervention recognizes that you are the experts on
your child. We value your input! Through participation in therapy sessions, you
will gain strategies and techniques through play. These strategies are designed
to easily carry over into your daily life and routines with your child. And
with practice comes progress!
https://eiclearinghouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/famrole.pdf
Where does
therapy take place? Early Intervention is
currently offering virtual and in-person therapy sessions for children. Sessions
can be hosted in your home or childcare center. Please see the link below to
learn more about live video visits.
https://eiclearinghouse.org/public-awareness/live-video-visits/
What services are offered through
Early Intervention?
https://eiclearinghouse.org/getting-started/ei-program-services/
• Assistive technology • Audiology/aural rehabilitation • Developmental
therapy/Family training and support • Health consultation • Medical diagnostic
evaluation (See brochure) • Nursing
• Nutrition • Occupational therapy • Physical therapy • Psychological/counseling
services • Service coordination • Sign language or cued language • Social
work • Speech language pathology • Transportation • Vision • Translation/interpretation
to other languages
How can I help get the process
moving? Parents and caregivers can
support the process by submitting paperwork and documentation requested by the
service coordinator. Help with obtaining copies of insurance cards and prescription for services (signed by medical provider) are greatly appreciated!
What happens if Early Intervention
does not hear back from a family?
Service coordinators are required to close the case after 45 days if they do
not hear from the family and/or receive the required paperwork back to begin
the process to schedule the evaluation. We understand, sometimes life gets
busy. Feel free to reinitiate the referral when you are ready by calling our
main office, (312) 942-7800.
What if my insurance/income/address/family
size changes? Families are required to
notify their service coordinator with any of the above changes. Additionally, caregivers
are asked to kindly provide supporting paperwork to document the change.
What is your service coordinator’s
role? A service coordinator works in partnership with the
family—from initial referral through transition out of early intervention—to
help the family gain access to the early intervention system, identify supports
and services that meet the family’s needs, and understand the family’s rights
and procedural safeguards.
The key to a service
coordinator’s work is building a trusting relationship with the family. A
service coordinator will take a family-centered approach at all times,
acknowledging the family as full and equal team members, recognizing family
strengths, and respecting family beliefs and values. This enables families to
have access to support and information about their child’s needs, a deeper
understanding of their child’s strengths and needs, and access to quality
supports that are effective, coordinated, and individualized to their needs.
What is an IFSP? An Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a report
that is developed after the initial evaluation(s). The IFSP outlines which
areas of development and which therapies will be the focus during the child’s
time in the program. The IFSP is active for one year, as long as the child
stays in the program and/or until the child turns three, whichever comes first.
The IFSP is updated after one year of service.
https://eiclearinghouse.org/einotes/ifsp/
What is an annual assessment? An annual assessment is required for all children in
the program with an active Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). The
assessment is done with all ongoing therapists and a developmental therapist if
the child is not currently receiving developmental therapy. During the
assessment, the IFSP and goals will be updated for the child to ensure the
areas of focus are relevant to the child’s development.
Can I still get Early Intervention
services if we move? Early
Intervention is a program offered throughout the United States. The Child and
Family Connections (CFC) office you work with will be based on your zip code. Your
service coordinator can help you identify your new office and assist with
transferring all paperwork. Please notify your service coordinator prior to your
move. If your move is within Illinois the service coordinator is able to
transfer the case. If you are moving out of state your service coordinator can
provide you with information about the office in your new area.
Early Intervention is a statewide program funded by IDEA Part C (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and overseen by Illinois DHS (Department of Human Services). It provides supports and services for families to help their children under age 3 meet developmental milestones.
How is a child referred for Early Intervention?
Anyone
can refer a child to Early Intervention (e.g. parents, physicians, other health
care providers, child care providers, social service agencies, early learning
programs, etc.). Once a referral is made, it is up to the family to decide
whether they want to participate. When possible, please use a standard referral
form (seen below):
https://www2.illinois.gov/hfs/SiteCollectionDocuments/hfs650.pdf
Referrals can also be made by calling our office, (312)942-7800.
What happens after my child is referred?
Once your child is referred, your family will be assigned a service coordinator. Together you and the service coordinator will arrange for an initial phone call. You will discuss your child’s strengths and areas of potential growth. Through these conversations, you and the service coordinator may determine which area(s) of development may need support. Initial evaluations with therapist(s) will then be scheduled. Results from these evaluations will be shared with you and the service coordinator. You, the service coordinator and therapists will then make a plan (IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan) https://eiclearinghouse.org/einotes/ifsp/which will outline goals as well as the frequency, type and focus of therapies.
https://eiclearinghouse.org/getting-started/ei-program-services/
Want to learn more? Please consider
looking at the links below.
What is Early Intervention?
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Brochures/4395.pdf
The Family Rights
Handbook includes information on parental consent, prior notice, examination of
records, confidentiality, complaints, and surrogate parents. Please refer to
the Family Rights packet for information on your rights are a parent.
https://eiclearinghouse.org/getting-started/family-rights/
Please refer to the Guide for Families for information on how to
navigate the Early Intervention program.
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/Brochures/4279R0518.pdf
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